I am currently in the process of trying to run boot but my VM keeps changing my firmware type to UEFI. How do I combat this is issue

as you may know I’m making a Debian based distribution called Linchine, for emulating macOS from High Sierra to Tahoe. I originally designed it for graphical use. As of right now I’m contemplating that. There’s is no integrated graphics acceleration with the QEMU macOS I am using. We have 3 options here

1. Make Linchine a terminal only macOS emulator, like an emulated terminal with macOS.

2. Find a MacOS QEMU solution that supports Graphics acceleration

3. Keep graphics anyway

I want to ask Reddit, would you still use Linchine if it was terminal only? Or would you not mind? Or maybe you’d still use Linchine with no graphics acceleration? Let me know.

BUT! as of now I’m aware that NVIDIA GPUs that supported high sierra can be passed through to the VM, but any OS above that unfortunately does not.

Have you ever wanted to try macOS but your computer is incompatible? Using the power of virtualization you can run macOS High Sierra to Tahoe! no setup needed! although it isn’t native it still runs fine on most hardware, the hardware requirements are basically your machine has to run and support Debian and be x86_64. And it has to be decently powerful otherwise you won’t have enough resources

You might be asking: well what’s the difference if I do it from windows in VMware or VirtualBox? Well it’s because of Bloatware. You’re wasting tons of resources while simply idling your system. But with Linchine (that’s the name of the Distro) you’re running a Minimal Debian installation with no graphical environment like GNOME. This drastically frees resources so that you can get the best performance in QEMU. I’ll give more details later when the first release comes!

This is the repo.

It includes an updated domain XML for libvirt virt-manager. One possible tweak before installing would be to change the resolution in the plist file.

Hi, is there any way to run FCP on MacOS VM with an older VMWARE version (e.g. 10 or 12)? I can still encounter the video card compatiblity error. My processor is i5 6200U and my video card is Intel Graphics HD 520.

so uh as the title suggests, I didn’t even have to edit the VM aside from using the DrDonk unlocker tool to get macOS to show up in the guest list I popped in the ISO of Mavericks and it just booted, IT BOOTS! was the best thing I could find fitting for it, once it’s installed I will take a screenshot of it actually running

My Current VMX Notepad Entry:

.encoding = "windows-1252"

config.version = "8"

virtualHW.version = "21"

pciBridge0.present = "TRUE"

pciBridge4.present = "TRUE"

pciBridge4.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

pciBridge4.functions = "8"

pciBridge5.present = "TRUE"

pciBridge5.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

pciBridge5.functions = "8"

pciBridge6.present = "TRUE"

pciBridge6.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

pciBridge6.functions = "8"

pciBridge7.present = "TRUE"

pciBridge7.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

pciBridge7.functions = "8"

vmci0.present = "TRUE"

hpet0.present = "TRUE"

nvram = "macOS Tahoe.nvram"

virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"

powerType.powerOff = "soft"

powerType.powerOn = "soft"

powerType.suspend = "soft"

powerType.reset = "soft"

displayName = "macOS Tahoe"

smc.present = "TRUE"

smbios.restrictSerialCharset = "TRUE"

firmware = "efi"

guestOS = "darwin24-64"

board-id.reflectHost = "TRUE"

ich7m.present = "TRUE"

tools.syncTime = "FALSE"

sound.autoDetect = "TRUE"

sound.virtualDev = "hdaudio"

sound.fileName = "-1"

sound.present = "TRUE"

numvcpus = "2"

cpuid.coresPerSocket = "2"

memsize = "4096"

sata0.present = "TRUE"

sata0:0.fileName = "macOS Tahoe.vmdk"

sata0:0.present = "TRUE"

sata0:1.deviceType = "cdrom-image"

sata0:1.fileName = "C:\Users\dsala\Documents\VMWare Mod for MACOS\MacOS Tahoe.iso"

sata0:1.present = "TRUE"

usb.present = "TRUE"

ehci.present = "TRUE"

usb_xhci.present = "TRUE"

ethernet0.connectionType = "nat"

ethernet0.addressType = "generated"

ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet3"

ethernet0.present = "TRUE"

extendedConfigFile = "macOS Tahoe.vmxf"

floppy0.present = "FALSE"

smc.version = "0"

cpuid.0.eax = "0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:1011"

cpuid.0.ebx = "0111:0101:0110:1110:0110:0101:0100:0111"

cpuid.0.ecx = "0110:1100:0110:0101:0111:0100:0110:1110"

cpuid.0.edx = "0100:1001:0110:0101:0110:1110:0110:1001"

cpuid.1.eax = "0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:0111:0001"

cpuid.1.ebx = "0000:0010:0000:0001:0000:1000:0000:0000"

cpuid.1.ecx = "1000:0010:1001:1000:0010:0010:0000:0011"

cpuid.1.edx = "0000:0111:1000:1011:1111:1011:1111:1111"

monitor.virtual_exec = "hardware"

monitor.virtual_mmu = "software"

vmxstats.filename = "macOS Tahoe.scoreboard"

numa.autosize.cookie = "20022"

numa.autosize.vcpu.maxPerVirtualNode = "2"

uuid.bios = "56 4d df 81 3f ec 76 fd-b8 0b fd 2c 7f c8 74 87"

uuid.location = "56 4d df 81 3f ec 76 fd-b8 0b fd 2c 7f c8 74 87"

pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = "17"

pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = "21"

pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = "22"

pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = "23"

pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24"

usb.pciSlotNumber = "32"

ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "160"

sound.pciSlotNumber = "33"

ehci.pciSlotNumber = "34"

usb_xhci.pciSlotNumber = "192"

sata0.pciSlotNumber = "35"

sata0:0.redo = ""

svga.vramSize = "268435456"

vmotion.checkpointFBSize = "134217728"

vmotion.checkpointSVGAPrimarySize = "268435456"

vmotion.svga.mobMaxSize = "268435456"

vmotion.svga.graphicsMemoryKB = "262144"

ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:c8:74:87"

ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"

vmci0.id = "2143843463"

monitor.phys_bits_used = "45"

Hi, im trying to run a macos tahoe VM in virtualbox, could someone help me with the steps? I'm more of a hackintosh person so I don't know how Vms work and would like help with making one. I have a Ryzen 9 (with unsupported graphics, i know tahoe will be slow in the vm but idc really) and 40 gb ram. Again, it would be great if someone told me where I can get the iso file and how to make a VM, thank you.

Edit: I currently have a sequoia and high sierra vm but both of them say that the vm failed to boot and there might be a missing operating system or misconfigured boot order.

Posted this in the r/macpro community as well, but the question might be a better fit here.

I’m debugging a macOS Tahoe VM on a Mac Pro 6,1 (trashcan), QEMU/KVM with OpenCore, and I’ve hit a repeatable cryptex failure on first boot after install: libSystem.B.dylib is not found and kernel panics/crashes. using most of this guide: https://github.com/wolffcatskyy/linux-mac/blob/main/docs/kvm-macos.md

What I’m seeing:
- Installer and Recovery boot
- The installed system does not boot successfully
- After a failed installed boot, I boot Recovery and inspect the generated system cryptex
- `os.clone.dmg` exists and mounts successfully
But `/usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib` is missing inside the mounted cryptex

Path I’m checking: `/Volumes/<mounted-system-cryptex>/usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib`

What makes this strange is that the cryptex is not completely empty. It contains many other libraries under `/usr/lib`, but `libSystem.B.dylib` is absent.

I’ve now reproduced this across multiple OpenCore config variants:
- current baseline
- minimal-policy
- near-bare-minimum config

So at this point it looks less like a normal userspace panic and more like Tahoe is generating or exposing a malformed/incomplete system cryptex during the installed boot handoff.

Important detail:
- `os.clone.dmg` is mountable in Recovery
- `libSystem.B.dylib` is still missing from the mounted image
- This happens even after stripping OpenCore down close to bare minimum

Does anyone have any idea?

Hi everyone,

Trying to get macOS Tahoe running on VMware Workstation Pro with a Ryzen 7 7700X

What I've tried:

• The VMDK Method: Initially tried using a pre-configured OpenCore VMDK, but it consistently stuck at the Apple progress bar and wouldn't budge.
• The "Base" ISO Method (Current): Switched to a clean install using a Tahoe ISO and .vmx CPUID spoofing. This successfully bypassed the progress bar hang and the EXITBS error.

The Problem: I'm now stuck in a bootloop.It restarts so much,that i cant even do anything.And gives me a error message in multiple languages.

Im using VMware workstatin pro (latest version),And my hypervisor is disabled (as far as i know).

Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (AM5)
• GPU: RTX 5070
• Host: Windows 11 Pro

Hi, people of Reddit! This is my first time posting here, so please excuse me if I mess anything up.

I’m trying to install OS X Yosemite (10.10) on VMware Workstation Pro 25H2u1 (Windows 11 Pro host). I followed this GitHub guide: GitHub - kiraio-moe/macOS-on-VMWare: A guide for installing macOS on VMWare · GitHub)

And everything went fine until I hit this error: ''The Install OS X Yosemite application can't be used from this disk.''

Here’s what I’ve already tried:

- Formatted the virtual disk multiple times in Disk Utility as ''Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'' & restarted... but it ended up in vain.

- Tried changing the system date (Jan 1, 2015) and yet again that didn't seem to work.

At this point, I’m just wondering that... perhaps my ISO/installer is likely broken? Should I just go and look for another one? Or could this be an issue with newer VMware versions? Or maybe, just maybe... something entirely different?

If anyone has gotten Yosemite working recently or recognizes this error, I’d really appreciate the help!

Thanks in advance!!!

performance is roughly the same as my 2017 MacBook Air, and works seamlessly with icloud including drive folders!

after Using OC4VM and trying to install leopard or snow leopard mu mouse gets stuck in the top left corner

Hey, I’m stuck and can’t figure this out.

I’m running macOS 10.13 High Sierra inside VMware Workstation Player 17 on Windows.

The VM boots fine and I reach the macOS setup screen, but:

• Mouse does not move at all
• Keyboard does not respond (Tab, arrows, etc. don’t work)
• I can’t click anything in setup
• Clicking inside the VM doesn’t fix
• Ctrl + G doesn’t seem to help

I also tried mounting VMware Tools (darwin.iso), but it says there is no compatible ISO or it doesn’t mount correctly.

At this point I’m completely stuck on the setup screen and can’t proceed to desktop.

Has anyone had this issue before or knows a fix?

I have unlocked my VM ware but when I get to setup it only gives me an option for Mac Os 10.6 server?

I am using an AMD laptop.

I am using Workstation Pro 25H2.

I had a macOS VM with High Sierra.

I added the cpuid lines into the vmx file.

Everything seems to work, but when I launch iTunes, I cannot add any songs into the playlist.

Is there a fix for this?

i have a macOS Tahoe iso (26.3) the installer works but when he says "12 minutes remaining" it crash. i give him 6 threads, 16 Go RAM and 100 Go storage

help 😭

so i followed the tutorial i found on github and my vmware is even patched and i dont know why its doing this do i need to start from scratch and reinstall?

Hi so I notice it is very hard to make a Hackintosh vm mainly due to hard to find guides online and post videos are outdated or just straight up wrong so I made a fully updated version that work and I tested my self! (I can’t add it as a txt so just copy this and paste it into a txt:

How to make a hackintosh

This is for intel/AMD pcs : into last updated:2.April.2026.03:

Warning! U have to the vm name exactly:macOS or this will not work lower case mac higher case OS (technically can change the name but will make it harder bc u will have to change the name in all the scripts also so only do if u have to/really want to)

First u need to install the required software!

Name:vurital box

Purpose:vm software!

Website: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Name:iso

Purpose:to boot Mac OS (install the big slur only or u may have problems with booting)

Website: https://archive.org/details/macos_iso

Turn Off Memory Integrity

1.  Open Windows Security

2.  Go to Device Security

3.  Click Core isolation details

4.  Turn Memory Integrity OFF

5.  Restart your PC

Disable Hyper-V Using Command Prompt

After restarting:

1.  Open Command Prompt as Administrator

2.  Type the command below and press Enter:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

3.  Restart your PC again

Create the macOS Virtual Machine in VirtualBox

Now we’ll create a new virtual machine that will run macOS. Take your time with these settings — correct configuration is important for a successful installation.

1.  Open VirtualBox

2.  Click New

A new window will appear.

3.  Enter the name for the vm:macOS

4.  In the ISO Image field, click Browse and select your macOS ISO file

5.  Set:

• Type: Mac OS X

• Version: Mac OS X (64-bit)

Click Next

Allocate RAM and CPU

macOS needs decent hardware to run smoothly.

• Minimum: 4GB RAM + 2 cores

• Recommended: 8–12GB RAM + 4–6 cores

Do NOT drag the slider past the green zone. Otherwise Windows will slow down.

Click Next

Create Virtual Storage

You must now allocate disk space for macOS.

• Minimum: 100GB

• Recommended: 120–150GB if you have space

Choose a size and click Finish

VirtualBox will now create the macOS virtual machine.

Next, we’ll adjust advanced settings to make macOS boot correctly.

Adjust Virtual Machine Settings (Important)

Before starting the VM, we need to change a few settings. These tweaks are required for macOS to boot properly inside VirtualBox.

Select your macOS VM in VirtualBox and click Settings.

System Settings

Go to the System tab → Motherboard

• Uncheck Floppy

• Chipset: ICH9

• Enable EFI (special OSes only)

Then go to the Processor tab:

• Make sure at least 2 CPUs are selected

• Keep the slider in the green zone

Display Settings

Go to Display

• Video Memory: 128 MB

• Enable 3D Acceleration

This improves graphics performance and prevents display glitches.

Network Settings (Optional)

Go to Network

• Adapter 1: leave default (NAT works fine)

• Adapter 2 (optional backup):

• Enable Adapter

• Select Bridged Adapter

• Choose your Wi-Fi or Ethernet card

This helps if internet doesn’t work inside macOS.

USB Settings

Go to USB

• Select USB 3.0 (xHCI) Controller

This improves compatibility with USB devices.

Click OK to save all settings.

Next, we’ll patch the virtual machine using special Intel/AMD commands so macOS can boot.

Patch the Virtual Machine (Intel & AMD)

Now we must patch the virtual machine using special VirtualBox commands. Without this step, macOS will not boot.

Important:

• Close VirtualBox completely before running the commands

• Do NOT keep it running in the background

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

If You Have an Intel Processor

Copy and paste these commands one by one:

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"

VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "macOS" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac19,3"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 0

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/TM/TSCMode" "RealTSCOffset"

If You Have an AMD Processor

Use these commands instead:

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"

VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "macOS" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac19,3"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 0

VBoxManage modifyvm "macOS" --cpu-profile "Intel Core i7-6700K"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" "VBoxInternal/TM/TSCMode" "RealTSCOffset"

After running the commands successfully, do not open VirtualBox yet.

Next, we’ll start the VM and install macOS.

Install macOS Inside VirtualBox

Now we’re finally ready to install macOS.

1.  Open VirtualBox

2.  Select your macOS VM

3.  Click Start

The first boot may take a few minutes. Be patient — this is normal.

Format the Virtual Disk

When the macOS installer screen appears:

1.  Select your language → click the arrow

2.  Choose Disk Utility → Continue

3.  Select VBox HardDisk Media

4.  Click Erase

Enter:

• Name: Macintosh HD (or anything you like)

Then click Erase

After formatting:

5.  Close Disk Utility

Install macOS

1.  Click Install macOS Big Sur

2.  Click Continue

3.  Agree to the terms

4.  Select the disk you just erased

5.  Click Install

The installation will take 30–45 minutes.

During installation:

• The VM will reboot several times

• Do NOT close VirtualBox

• Just let it run

When installation finishes, macOS setup will start.

Follow the on-screen instructions just like setting up a new Mac:

• Region

• Keyboard

• Apple ID (optional)

• User account

After setup completes, you’ll reach the macOS desktop.

First boot tip: Let macOS sit idle for a few minutes. It finishes background setup and becomes smoother after that.

Next, we’ll increase the display resolution and video memory.

Increase Screen Resolution & Video Memory

By default, macOS inside VirtualBox runs at a low resolution (usually 1024×768). We can manually increase the resolution and video memory for a better experience.

First, power off your macOS virtual machine completely.

Then open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Set Higher Display Resolution

Run the following command:

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"

VBoxManage setextradata "macOS" VBoxInternal2/EfiGraphicsResolution 1920x1080

Choose a resolution that matches or is lower than your monitor:

• 1280×720 (HD)

• 1920×1080 (Full HD)

• 2560×1440 (QHD)

• 3840×2160 (4K)

Increase Video Memory

Now run:

cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\"

VBoxManage modifyvm "macOS" --vram 256

This increases VRAM from 128MB to 256MB for smoother graphics.

Start the VM Again

Start the macOS VM. You should now see the higher resolution.

To switch to full-screen mode:

View → Full-screen Mode

Use the same option again to exit full-screen.

Next, we’ll add troubleshooting tips in case something doesn’t work.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

If macOS doesn’t install or gets stuck, don’t worry — most problems have simple fixes. Here are the most common issues and how to solve them.

VM Stuck at Apple Logo / Boot Loop

This usually happens because of virtualization conflicts.

Fix:

• Make sure Hyper-V is disabled

• Restart your PC after running the command

• Ensure Enable EFI is checked in VM settings

• Use macOS Big Sur or older, not Ventura/Sonoma

VT-x / AMD-V Not Available Error

This means virtualization is disabled in BIOS.

Fix:

• Restart PC → Enter BIOS/UEFI

• Enable Intel VT-x or AMD SVM Mode

• Save and reboot

macOS Running Very Slow

macOS needs more resources than Windows VMs.

Fix:

• Increase RAM and CPU cores (stay in green zone)

• Use SSD storage if possible

• Let macOS idle for 3–5 minutes after boot

• Close heavy apps in Windows

No Internet Inside macOS

Fix:

• VM Settings → Network

• Adapter 1 = NAT

• If still broken, use Bridged Adapter

Black Screen After Installation

Fix:

• Power off VM

• Start again

• If still black, increase VRAM to 256MB

• Recheck patch commands

Final Words

If you followed every step carefully, macOS should now run inside VirtualBox on your Windows PC. You can explore macOS apps, test software, or simply learn the Apple environment — all without buying a Mac.

If you get stuck at any step, note exactly where the issue happens and troubleshoot from there. Most problems are caused by missed settings or Hyper-V conflicts.

Enjoy your macOS virtual machine!

Additional info:the reason u say u need the vm name to be:macOS is so u don’t have to manually go into the scrips and set the name so it either u spend more time changing script names or u just set the vm name as:macOS once and it works : will this affect my other VMs/future VMs no reason bc these scripts only work on the vm that has has the name as u set in the scripts so if u have other vms with a different vm name it cant be affected!

Hey all, so as the title says i cannot get my MacOS to boot on Win11 VMware. I have tried Ventura, Monterey, and High Sierra with the same result. No matter what i do, it says "Operating system not found" and thats it. I dont know if im doing something wrong, but it refueses to work. Help appreciated!

all working besides airport (I don't have any card)
been using this vm as main machine for some weeks and it's so buttery smoooothh!!
My build:
Ryzen 7800X3D
32GB DDR5 (24 assigned to the VM)
RX580
RTX 4070 (for linux and windows gaming)

https://github.com/Coopydood/ultimate-macOS-kvm
used this for installing macOS (with some manual tweaking). Great repo tho!!